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9/9/99: News? Nein!

Posted by Hemos on from the this-amused-me-greatly dept.

SEWilco writes "As Slashdot readers know, today's date abbreviated as 9999 may cause problems in some older computers. So far only one report of a Tandy problem. 9s-day no problem in New Zealand and Hong Kong, Guam OK and USA still has electric power on 9/9/99. But seriously, folks, today is a big day for numerologists, pagans, and Nostradamus. So far today the NASA Near-Earth Object Program has not seen a comet coming to hit us. But what is so special about the Era of Alexandria 7491 anyway?"

2 of 296 comments (clear)

  1. An attempt to boost confidence by Robin+Hood · · Score: 5
    Seems to me that these stories about "everything's O.K. on 9/9/99" are more than likely part of an attempt to boost people's confidence so there won't be massive panic in December 1999. See, if I were making Y2K contingency plans for, say, a bank (which, thankfully, I'm not) I would be much less worried about disruptions in electrical service, etc. and much more worried about people panicking. See, if people don't trust that their banks are going to be ready, they'll start withdrawing their money, and before you know it you could have a run on the bank. Remember that scene in Mary Poppins? Or the one in It's a Wonderful Life?? That's what worries me more than any disruptions in electrical service.

    So confidence-boosting articles are just fine by me! :-)
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  2. Y2K is a bug in the human brain by dirty · · Score: 5

    We're much more likely to see problems caused by idiots rather than computers. Think about what's probally already started happening. People are going to be buying more canned goods and other non-perishables. People are going to buy bomb shelters and take their money out of banks. Banks are going to go under, food prices will sky-rocket, as will any other materials used in a bomb shelter. Then guess what happens when jan 1st rolls around and the world hasn't exploded? Well with all of those non-perishables people aren't going to buy food, especially due to the increased prices because of the limited supply the day before. People aren't going to trust the banks with their money, after all, many went under because they weren't Y2K (read: moron) compliant.

    Oh and we can't forget the inevitable rioting that's going to occur. Americans will use any excuse to riot. Your favorite team lost the world series, riot. Your favorite team won the world series, riot. Y2K aka armagedon is here, riot.

    God bless morons one and all...

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    -matt